Neighborhood comes together to honor its best

U.S. Marine Sergeant Michael Trilla salutes an American flag as it's being placed onto the flag pole during the annual Neighborhood Remembrance Day Celebration at Lake Cemetery in Graniteville.
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE/MARK STEIN

STATEN ISLAND, NY - GRANITEVILLE - As close to 50 people in Lake Cemetery sat across from the gravesites of family members and military veterans, members of the U.S. Marine Corps lowered and carefully replaced an old, tattered American flag with a fresh, new red, white and blue banner.

The Annual Neighborhood Remembrance Day at Lake Cemetery on the corner of Forest Avenue and Willowbrook Road in Graniteville was held May 28 as a start to Memorial Day weekend.

The event was for all veterans, living and dead, and for the families of those who fought for the country.

Coast Guard Chaplain Lt. David Rozanek led the ceremony in a cemetery that is the resting spot for 49 troops who served in the Civil War and both World Wars.

It was held “To make sure none of the veterans are neglected, and that they receive the honor and recognition they deserve,” the lieutenant said.

“It gives (their families) a sense of pride and maybe a feeling of closure if they’re old enough to remember those who fought and died,” Lt. Rozanek said. He said remembering brings a feeling of patriotism that he hopes will motivate younger people to better their community and nation.

The Memphis, Tennessee, native was humbled to be chosen to lead the service.The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps were honored at the event, as was Mark Russo, president of the Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries.

Marjorie Decker Johnson was also given a special honor in recognition of her 30 years of service. Her mother, father and both sets of grandparents were buried in the cemetery.

“I feel privileged and proud,” she said, noting that the cemetery had a lot of overgrown weeds and bushes before the Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries restored it.

Mrs. Johnson, 85, of Clifton, has earned many honors over the years. She was named a 1990 Advance Woman of Achievement, and she received the Loring McMillen Award presented by the Staten Island Historical Society in 1991. She received the Centennial Award and the Preservation Award, both given by the Historic Districts Council of New York City, in 1999 and 2001 respectively.

She was once treasurer for the Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries and had previously worked at Historic Richmond Town.

The event also paid tribute to the memory of Timothy Last, a volunteer at Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries; Christine Farrell Rumpf, a Parks Department employee for 30 years, and Kenneth Walters, a World War II Army veteran.

Ken Schubert, 58, of Port Richmond, attended the service in honor of his brother, a Vietnam War veteran, and his father, a World War II veteran.

“I appreciate everything that the military people have done for us,” Schubert said. “And the sacrifices they’ve made for us.”